UTC’s Lakelyn Bouldin passes while guarded by Lee’s Abby Bertram during a home game on Nov. 6. University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women vs. Belmont at McKenzie Arena
Time: Tonight at 7
Video/radio: ESPN3/96.1 FM
Likely lineups (with heights and scoring averages in parentheses)
UTC (4-7)
Projected starters: G Lakelyn Bouldin (5-8, 14.0); G Brooke Burns (5-10, 7.7); F Shelbie Davenport (6-0, 6.9); G Molly Melton (5-4, 1.9); F Arianne Whitaker (6-2, 5.5).
Key reserves: G Mya Long (5-9, 5.6); F Eboni Williams (6-0, 6.7).
BELMONT (5-3)
Projected starters: G Ellie Harmeyer (6-0, 14.4); G Darby Maggard (5-5, 13.8); F Maura Muensterman (6-0, 8.3); G Jenny Roy (5-11, 9.4); F Maddie Wright (6-1, 8.3).
Key reserves: F Conley Chinn (6-1, 4.1); G Maddie Cook (5-10, 4.1).
MOCS REPORT
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga has lost five consecutive games, with the most recent defeat 68-65 in overtime at Northern Colorado on Thursday. Bolden, though, continues her strong play – the junior is coming off a 22-point performance and leads Southern Conference players in free-throw shooting at 90 percent, bolstered by a 9-of-9 outing Thursday. Long and Williams, both underclassmen, are coming off rough road games and will hope to come alive back home.
BRUINS REPORT
Ohio Valley Conference member Belmont will be playing its first game in two weeks after taking time off for exams. The Bruins’ most recent outing was a 40-point win over Lipscomb in which they hit 17 3-pointers. They lost by only three to Clemson on Dec. 2, and in their opener they played close against another Atlantic Coast Conference foe, North Carolina State – which was ranked 17th at the time, is now 10th and visits UTC on Friday as former Mocs coach Wes Moore returns to Chattanooga – before losing 77-62.
KEY MATCHUP
Statistically, the biggest difference between these teams is rebounding, where the Bruins have two players, Harmeyer and Roy, averaging better than seven boards per game. The Lady Mocs’ top rebounder is reserve Williams at 4.4. UTC has won nine consecutive games in this series and will need to hit the boards to extend it.